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Is Mnangagwa still the leader of the House?

This was the question posed on Wednesday this week by opposition legislator Fani Munengami of Glen View North but he was told to wait because the government would soon make an announcement.

Deputy Speaker Mabel Chinomona said the Minister of Justice was automatically the Leader of the House but legislators had to wait for the official announcement.

Former intelligence boss Happyton Bonyongwe was appointed Justice Minister in the latest cabinet reshuffle and was present in the House when Munengami asked his question.

Before the reshuffle Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa was also Justice Minister and was also in the House.

When Movement for Democratic Change deputy president Thokozani Khupe asked a question directed at the Leader of the House, it was answered by Mnangagwa and not Bonyongwe.

Here is what transpired.

HON. MUNENGAMI: We have had a very good working relationship with the Hon. Vice President, Hon. Mnangagwa, when he was still the Leader of the House and now that we have got a new Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, could we be furnished to know whether the Vice President is still the Leader of the House or we now have – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]- so that at least we…

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order! Order Hon. Members. Can we have order? The Hon. Member has a right to ask what he wants to know and understand in this House. So, we do not have to waste time. Hon. Member, I know it is going to be announced, but you will know that another duty of the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is being the Leader of the House. That is automatic.

HON. MUNENGAMI: So, whom are we going to ask our questions today? Are we going to direct our questions to the Vice President or what?

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: If you have any questions pertaining to the Leader of the House, you can direct them to him.

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The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.